‘They are doing fantastic’: Enzo Maresca’s heartfelt praise for Liverpool’s team spirit ahead of Chelsea game

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Liverpool face Chelsea on Saturday in a must-win Premier League game to reverse their poor recent form.Arne Slot and his side have had a difficult week of results in both the league and Champions League, performing poorly in back-to-back losses.Both the Crystal Palace and Galatasaray games have shown a lack of energy and, at times, creative ideas, which have hampered their ability to get back into the games.However, the match at Stamford Bridge should be seen as a real reset opportunity against the Blues, who are depleted coming into the game with eight players either suspended or injured.Enzo Maresca previewed the game in his pre-match press conference, and while acknowledging the size of the challenge in front of his team, he also spoke of how the side have handled the Diogo Jota tragedy this season.Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesEnzo Maresca’s heartfelt message on Liverpool’s team spirit after Diogo Jota’s deathJota and his brother Andre died in July after a tragic car accident. Liverpool have tried their hardest to commemorate their former striker in any way they can, and to support his family every step of the way.This was a tragedy that shook up the football club and the city, and it is something that has had an effect on all the players in the squad.Maresca was asked by a journalist about whether this was the perfect time for his side to play the Reds, given their run of form going into the game.READ MORE: Liverpool boss Arne Slot thanks Everton for Diogo Jota tribute ahead of poignant Merseyside DerbyThe Italian dismissed the claim and instead took the opportunity to praise Liverpool’s camaraderie and strength in dealing with the tragedy before the season had commenced.He said: “I don’t think now it is better to play Liverpool.

It is always a tough game, always a big team. The way they are doing this season is in any case, fantastic, especially after the Jota tragedy.“I lived the exact same when I was a player 20 years ago, it is not easy for the players or manager.

You have to be very strong. This is the reason why for me they are doing, not good, but better than good because dealing with a problem like this is not easy.”Enzo Maresca dealt with a similar tragedy at SevillaThe manager, as he mentions in the presser, knows all too well about tragedies in football, having experienced a similar situation during his time at Sevilla with the untimely death of Antonio Puerta.In 2007, Puerta, at the age of 22, collapsed in the penalty area during a game against Spanish side Getafe and later died in hospital.It was a death that shocked the world of football, and it led to calls for mandatory cardiac screenings across all professionally organised sports.Maresca was a player at the time and was dealing with the death of a player who had risen through the ranks of the academy, which could not have been easy.His message to Liverpool was incredibly heartfelt and showed that in times of tragedy, the footballing world can always come together as one to support each other.